Which Gamelands offer camping?

[Deerherder]

I’ve been thinking about taking my boys to do a small game or dove overnight camping & hunting trip this fall.

Any advice on which game lands or national forests in NC would be best?

 

[Part-time hunter]

Don't know what area you are focusing on but I know they have primitive camping in a couple of places on Butner/Falls around Raleigh and Holly Shelter in Pender County.

 

[Mack in N.C.]

Check the regs book

 

[Ridgeline66]

I "think" Caswell allows it, maybe even a camping area.

 

[turkeyfoot]

If you look in regs it'll list gamelands and if camping allowed as Well as when some are restricted but if your hunting it should be open. I don't know much about the eastern ones but around here it could be anything from a decent size fescue field a gravel parking lot or a small pull off type spot primitive sites. On state land you are restricted to designated areas that are marked on map. On ntnl forest have lot more options. Its fun way to spend out in say Oct Nov when weather is nice cool

 

[Uwharrieman]

Uwharrie NF has year round camping, both sites and primitive camping.

 

[Triggernosis]

Croatan National Forest

 

[Combat Diver]

Juniper Creek in Brunswick county has two primitive campgrounds, which are only open during open seasons.

CD

 

[timekiller13]

Looks like you are from Eastern Nc based on your profile. As others have said, Croatan National Forest offers plenty of camping opportunities. You could also look at the Roanoke Wildlife Refuge. Would require a permit to draw for hunting, but some tracts have established campgrounds and you can camp within 100 yds of the river on any of them. It's pretty fun to canoe in and camp out for 3 or 4 days on the Roanoke.

 

[oldest school]

sandhills has them everywhere, complete with dove fields, Jordan as well.

 

[turkeyfoot]

sandhills has them everywhere, complete with dove fields, Jordan as well.

I thought Jordan didn't have any hunter campgrounds meaning able to have guns at sights?

 

[Ol Copper]

I thought Jordan didn't have any hunter campgrounds meaning able to have guns at sights?

Yeah, I thought you couldnt camp at Jordan in possession of firearms. Fill us in OS, I need a Jordan camp spot for my bird hunt.

 

[woodmoose]

sandhills has them everywhere, complete with dove fields, Jordan as well.

spreading rumors there buddy,,,,camping is only allowed in designated areas on the Sandhills and there are only two designated areas - one west of HWY 1 and one east of Hwy 1

 

[nccatfisher]

spreading rumors there buddy,,,,camping is only allowed in designated areas on the Sandhills and there are only two designated areas - one west of HWY 1 and one east of Hwy 1

Yep, and that one east of hwy 1 gets a little rowdy from time to time.

 

[oldest school]

Yeah, I thought you couldnt camp at Jordan in possession of firearms. Fill us in OS, I need a Jordan camp spot for my bird hunt.

i apologize. i just knew they were all around the lake. honestly did not know of the firearm restrictions.

 

[oldest school]

spreading rumors there buddy,,,,camping is only allowed in designated areas on the Sandhills and there are only two designated areas - one west of HWY 1 and one east of Hwy 1

Rambling around there Sunday i saw those so close together and made my statement.
there are private campgrounds in the area as well of course.

 

[turkeyfoot]

Also keep in mind if you wanna hunt more than one day some those gameland like Caswell are 3 day week hunting you can still camp any day but only hunt Mon wed sat

 

[Ol Copper]

i apologize. i just knew they were all around the lake. honestly did not know of the firearm restrictions.

No apology needed. They are all around the lake but I heard that only 1 was hunter friendly...just trying to figure out which one.

 

[ncstatehunter]

No apology needed. They are all around the lake but I heard that only 1 was hunter friendly...just trying to figure out which one.

Best bet is the little campground over in Moncure. That’s where we stay during deer season to hunt Jordan and Harris if we take down the camper. Can’t remember the name off the top of my head. All the State Park ones are no weapons and even without that their gate opening times don’t help out hunters.

 

[Ol Copper]

All the State Park ones are no weapons and even without that their gate opening times don’t help out hunters.

Yep, I forgot about that. You are correct, they do close them gates.

 

[southernshaman]

I see two spots, according to the game land map.

https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Hunting/Game-Land-Maps/Piedmont/Sandhills.pdf

https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...f801d348a290170!8m2!3d34.898853!4d-79.5512509
(Marston/Hoffman)

https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...2ecbfb5b01d517!8m2!3d35.0543588!4d-79.6946862 (Millstone/Ledbetter)

 

[jbcook]

Yep, and that one east of hwy 1 gets a little rowdy from time to time.

Just curious, what do you mean rowdy? I planned on staying at that one for my permit days.

 

[jbcook]

I applied for the permit last year for the first time. Do you apply for an individual or a party? I would like to bring someone with me but I cannot remember the specifics....